Relays



Jan- 25, 1960 R. l. DINLocKER 2,922,862

RELAY-S Filed Dec. 29, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wpd; @auf A TTORNE YS.

Jan. 26, 1960 R, l, D|NLOCKER 2,922,862

RELAYS Filed Dec. 29. 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 38 if .as F167` l IN V ENTOR.

BY @da @we A TTORNE YS.

RELAYS -Robert Dinlo'cker, Lansdale, Pa., assignor' to Electro-Mechanical Instrument Co., Perkasie, Pa.

Application December 29, 1958, Serial No. 783,343 Claims. (Cl. 200-104)This invention relatesto relays. More particularly, it is concerned withso-called sequence relays of the single pole double-throwsolenoid-actuated type useful, for example, in connection with remotecontrols for television apparatus.

My invention has for its chief aim the provision of a relay of the abovekind which is simple in construction and conducive to ready andeconomical production in quantity; which is free against the possibilityof easy derangernent over long periods of use; which is reliable from astandpoint of positively maintaining the circuits which it is intendedto establish and control; and which, moreover, is quiet in its operationas compared to relays heretofore designed to serve for a similarpurpose.

Other important objects and attendant advantages will appear from thefollowing detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation on an enlarged scale of a relayconveniently embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 shows the relay in top plan,

Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sectional views through the relay taken asindicated respectively by the arrows III- III and IV-IV in Fig. 2, l

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are perspective views of various components of therelay which will be particularly referred to in detail hereinafter,

Figs. 8, 9, and 11 are fragmentary sectional views corresponding to Fig.3 showing successive stepsy in the operation of the relay.

As'herein illustrated, the relay comprises a hollow vertical axis spool1 of plastic or other suitable di-electric material, abo-ut which a coil2 of wire is wound to serve as a solenoid, one lead of said coil Xbeingsoldered to a terminal lug 3 recessed into the bottom of the upper angeof the spool, and the other lead to one end of a bar 4 recessed into thetop of said ange and having its opposite end connected to anotherterminal lug 5,

also recessed into the bottom of said flange. At the bottom, the spool 1has a diametrically reduced axial prolongation 6 about which is engageda circumferentially grooved collar 7 of resilient rubber or otherinsulation, said collar being secured in place by a snap ring 8 forcedonto the protruding end of said prolongation. Lodged in thecircumferential groove of the collar 7 is the apertured horizontal arm 9of an L-shaped supporting bracket 10 of which the vertical arm isapertured as at 11 in Figs. 2 and 4, for passage of screws or similarsecuring devices. Integrally formed with spool `1 at the top are squareoutstanding diametral projections 12 and 13. Set into a con formativerecess in the top of the projection 12 is a contact piece 15 of stilsheet metal having a lug 16 which extends inwardly toward the axis ofthe spool, and a lateral lug 17 (see Fig. 2) for connection of a circuitconductor. Mounted on the projection 12 over the contact piece 15 is asmall block 18 of insulation, and set into a recess in the top of saidblock is a similar contact piece 19 which likewise has a lug 20extending inwardly toward the axis of the spool from the opposite sideand United States Patent O Patented Jan. 26, 1960 a lateral lug 21 (Fig.2) for connection of another circuit conductor. The shank of a headedsecuring screw designated 22 (Figs. 2 and 3) extends down through thecontact piece 19, through the block 18 and through an oversize hole inthe contact piece 15 and takes threadedly into the lug 12. Arranged forup and down movement of its distal end in the interval between the lugs16 and 2t) of the xed Contact pieces 15 and 19 is a contact element 25which is separately illustrated in Fig. 5, the same being struck fromthin, springy sheet metal to channel cross section. The anchorage end ofthe element 25 is set into a recess at the top of the lug 13 of thespool 1 between a pair of thin restraining pieces 26 and 27 which may beof metal. Superimposed upon the anchorage end of the element 25 is aterminal piece 28 which is struck from stift sheet metal and has lugs 28and 29 for connection of still other circuit conductors, said elementand said terminal piece being xedly held in place in the assemblage by aheaded screw 31, as best shown in Fig. 3. From Fig. 5 it will beobserved that the element 25 is slotted and formed with a short punchedout longitudinal tongue 32, and a long punched out longitudinal tongue,the spaced opposing ends of said tongues being notched as in 35 and 36respectively for engagement therewith of the hook ends 38 and 39 of aV-shaped toggle element 40 which is separately illustrated in Fig. 6.

Constrained to up and down movement within the hollow of the spool 1 isthe armature 41 of the solenoid (Figs. 3, 4 and 7) to the top of whichis affixed by a screw 42, a U-shaped metallic yoke 43 whereof one leg 44is provided adjacent the top with an aperture 45, and whereof the otherleg 46 is provided adjacent the top with a downward notch 47; andengaged in said aperture and said notch are the outwardly directed ends49 and 50 of a swingable bale-like element 5f1 fashioned from stiff wireand adapted to cooperate with the toggle element 40 in a mannerpresently explained. It is to be noted that the outwardly directed end50 of the balelike element 51 engaged within the notch 47 of the yoke 43if formed with a downward crank 52 to which is connected one end of asmall tension spring 53, the other end of said spring being connected toan anchorage 54 on the corresponding leg of said yoke. By means of thespring 53, the element 51 is normally maintained yieldingly in truevertical suspension as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. A bifurcated plate 57stamped from stift sheet insulation and secured to the top of the spool1 by a screw 58, extends transversely of the projections 12 and 13, andserves as a guide for one of the legs of the yoke 43 to prevent thearmature 41 from turning within the hollow of the spool during operationof the relay, and also as a limiting stop for the armature.

Assume that the distal end of the moveable contact element 25 is engagedwith the lug 16 of the fixed contact element 15 as in Figs. 3 and 8, inwhich position it is firmly held by the biasing elfect of the toggleelement 40 under the influence of the spring tongue 33. Uponenergization of the solenoid and lifting of its armature 41 withattendant elevation of the bail-like element 51, the cross bar of thelatter wipes against the lefthand side of the toggle element to swinglow of the spool 1 is the armature 41 of the solenoid (Figs. 3, 4 and 7)to the top of which is ailxed by a screw 42, a U-shaped metallic yoke 43whereof one leg 44 is provided adjacent the top with an aperture 45, andwhereof one leg 44 is provided adjacent the top with an aperture 45, andwhereof the other leg 46 is provided adjacent the top with a downwardnotch 47; and engaged in said aperture and said notch are the outwardlydirected ends 49 and 50 of a swingable baillike element 51 fashionedfrom stijf wire and adapted to cooperate with the toggle element 40 in amanner pres- M ently explained. It is to be noted that the outwardlydirected end 50 of the bail-like element 51 engaged within the notch 47of the yoke 43 is formed with a downward crank 52 to which is lconnectedone end of a small tension spring 53, the other end of said spring beingconnected to an anchorage 54 on the corresponding leg of said yoke. Bymeans of the spring 53, the element 51 is normally maintained yieldinglyin true vertical suspension as shown .in Figs. 3 and 4. A bifurcatedplate 57 stamped from stiff sheet insulation and secured to the top ofthe spool 1 by a screw 58, extends transversely of the projections 12and 13, and serves as a guide for one 0f the legs of the yoke 43 toprevent the armature 41 from turning within the hollow of the spoolduring operation of the relay, and also as a limiting stop for thearmature.

Operation Assume that the distal end of the moveable contact element 25is engaged with the lug 16 of the fixed contact element 15 as in Figs. 3and 8, in which position Vit is firmly held by the biasing effect of thetoggle velement 40 under the influence of the` spring tongue 33. Uponenergization of the solenoid and lifting of its armature 41 withattendant elevation of the bail-like element 51, the cross bar of thelatter wipes against the lefthand side of the toggle element to swing itto an angular position to the opposite side of the vertical als in Fig.9 whereby the distal end of the moveable contact element 25 beingthereby raised into engagement with the lug 20 of the upper fixedcontact element19. The distal endrofthe moveable contact element 25 isthereafter maintained firmly in engagement with the lug 19 of the upper.fixed contact 20 by the spring action of the now upwardly deflectedtongue 33 of said moveable contact element upon the toggle element 40.When the solenoid is next energized, the righthand side of the toggleelement 40' is wiped by the cross bar of the bail-like element S1, withthe result that said toggle element is swung back to` the angularposition as in Fig. ll and the distal end of the moveable contactelement thereby caused to engage the lug 16 of the fixed Contact 15,this engagement being firmly maintained thereafter likewise, by thespring action of the tongueV 33 upon said toggle element. It willtherefore be seen that, by successive energizations of the solenoid, themoveable contact element 25 will be actuated to alternatively engage thelugs 16 and 20 of the fixed contacts 15 and 19.

In describing the preferred embodiment ofthe invention illustrated inthe drawing, specific' terminology will be resorted to for the sake ofclarity. However, it is not the .intention to be limited to the specificterms so selected, and it is to be understood that each specific termincludes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner toaccomplish a similar purpose.

Having thus describedv my invention, I claim: l. In a sequence relayhaving a hollow vertical axis spool of dielectric material surrounded bya coil of wire to serve as a solenoid, a pair of vertically spaced fixedcontacts at the top of the spool to one side of thehollow t of thespool, a moveable contact finger with Vone end thereof fixedly securedto the top ofthe spool Vto the opposite side of the spool hollow andextending diametrically across said hollow for play of its distal end inthe interval between the fixed contacts, and armature constrained to upand down movement withinthe hollow of the spool, and means actuated fromthe armature tocause the linger to alternately engage the respectivefixed contacts during excitation of the coil: a circumferentiallygrooved collar of resilient material engaged about a diametricallyreduced axial prolongation at the bottom end of the spool, a supportingbracket of stiff plate material fashioned for engagement of one endthereof in the circum'ferential groove of the collar, and a retainingsnap ring forced onto the end ofthe reduced prolongatin Of the spoolprotruding beyond the collar.

2. In a sequence relay, a vertical axis solenoid having an armatureconstrained to up and down movement within its hollow; a pair ofvertically spaced contacts secured to the top of the solenoid at oneside; a flexible contact element secured at one end to the top of thesolenoid at the opposite side and extendingdiametrically of the hollowof the solenoid for movement of its distal end between and intoengagement in alternation with said fixed contacts, said -moveablecontact being yslotted and formed with a longitudinal spring tonguewhereof the distal end is spaced from one end of the slot; a pendentV-shaped toggle element having one end thereof engaged with the distalend of the tongue and the other end thereof engaged with the opposingend of the slot for capacity to be yswung laterally to angular positionsto opposite sides of the vertical; a U-shaped yoke amxed to the top ofthe solenoid armature with its side arms extending upgthrough thehollow'ofthe solenoid; and a bail-like element pivotally hung from thetops of the side arms of the yoke with its cross barl underreaching thetoggle element, where- V by, upon energization of the solenoid andraising of said bail-like element, the cross bar of the latter by wipingone side ofthe toggle element causes the spring tongue to be flexed inone direction and the moveable contact element to engage one of thefixed contacts, and whereby upon the next energization of the solenoidand lifting of the yoke, the cross bar of the bail-like element iscaused to wipe the opposite side of the toggle element thereby to flexthe spring tongue in the opposite direction and the moveable contactelement to engage the other fixed Contact. Y t

3. A lsequence relay according to claim 2, further including means foryieldingly maintaining said bail-like element no'rmally in true verticalsuspension. p

4. A sequence relay according to claim 2, wherein the bail-like elementhas outwardly directed end portions pivoted in the tops of the yokelegs, and wherein one of the end portions of the bail-like element isformed with apendent crank projection; and further including a coiledspring with one end thereof connected to the crank of the bail-likeelement and the other end connected to an anchorage on the outer side ofthe corresponding yoke leg, for yieldingly maintaining said baillikeelement normally in true vertical suspension.

5. In a sequence relay, a hollow vertical axis' spool of di-electricmaterial about which a coil of -wire is wound to serve as a solenoid; anarmature constrained to up and down movement within the hollow of the Aspool; a pair o'f vertically spaced contacts secured to the top of thespool at one side; a flexible moveable contact element with one of itsends secured to the Vtop of the spool, extending diametricalliy over thehollow of the spool Y for movement of its distal end between and intoengagement alternately with the fixed contacts, said moveable contactlbeing slotted and. formed with a longitudinally extending tongue whereofthe distal end is spaced from `the opposing end of the slot; a pendentV-shaped toggle element with hook ends whereof one is engaged in thedistal end of the tongue of the moveable contact element and the otheris engaged in'theiopposing end of the slot for capacity of said Vtoggleelement to be swung laterally to' angular positions to opposite sides ofthe vertical; a U-shaped yoke affixed to the top of the vsolenoidarmature with its side arms extending up and out through the top of thespool; and a bail-'like element hung fromy yoke, the cross bar of thebail-like element by wiping th Opposite side of the toggle elementcauses the tongu'` ofJthe moveable contact element to be flexed in theoggosite direction and the moveable contact to engage the other xedcontact.

UNITED ST ATBS PATENTS Eaton i- June 24, 1941 Stilwell Feb. 11, 1947

